Sziget Festival kicks off today with horrific prices and compulsory reductions

Budapest’s emblematic Sziget Festival is 30 years old this year. And it seems they prepared to celebrate the event with improved quality service to ensure lasting memories for the guests. The weather will brighten up in the next few days, but the prices remain eye-watering at Sziget for an average Hungarian festivalgoer. However, the government’s latest measure of compulsory price reductions applies to the festival too, which can bring a bit of a relief. 

According to Blikk, a Hungarian tabloid, Sziget operated a bit puritan last year. But, in 2023, show elements are to return. Apart from comfort and leisure, price control will be the third crucial element of this year’s Sziget. That means every food vendor is compelled to sell at least one dish off the menu that costs no more than HUF 2,500 (EUR 6.5).

The festival’s main organiser Tamás Kádár said they had to introduce this option as drinks have had a fixed price for years, but foods did not. “Frankly, we received feedback even from foreign tourists complaining about the sky-high food prices”, he added. That is why they came up with the idea of compulsory price reductions or price control. Obviously, they do not want the guests to spend money in nearby food stores or city restaurants.

• Do you know how to get to the festival? HERE is everything you should know.

Price control applies even to the performers. Both Michelin-star backstage catering and crazy wish lists are gone. The performers also have to adopt the new restrictions. Last year, Justin Bieber asked for a cryotherapy ice bath, and Marilyn Manson wanted M&M’s separated by colours at VOLT, but that’s all, Mr Kádár said. The technical head of the festival, Dániel Benis, said it seems the pandemic taught modesty. Even the greatest stars remained without revenues for months, but they had to pay their staff regardless. Of course, they try to provide maximum comfort for the stars.

• Belgian woman mysteriously died at popular Hungarian festival – read more in THIS article

Earlier, only the main stage’s backstage required tens of millions of forints to serve all needs. But now that’s a thing of the past. The stars can bring their cook, but there are no longer Michelin-star chefs backstage. Mr Benis added the artefact the stars request the most frequently is a Hungarian flag.

The Sziget festival will be Hungary’s 10th biggest city this weekend. The daily capacity of the place reaches 90 thousand people. They have 100 restaurants with Hungarian and international flavours, vegan dishes and a budget-friendly options costing no more than EUR 6.5. There will be no ToiToi toilets because the organisers created containerised lavatory rooms with 1,000 toilets.

• Interested in the line-up of the Sziget? HERE is our article

Regardless of the compulsory price control, the costs of food and beverage are not designed for an average Hungarian wallet. Concerning drinks, a shot starts from HUF 2,290 (EUR 6), mineral water from HUF 990 (EUR 2.5), draught beer (0.5l) is HUF 1690 (EUR 4.37), 1 dl of wine is HUF 790 (EUR 2), while a cup of coffee costs you HUF 1050 (EUR 2.71). A slice of pizza sits at HUF 2,490 (EUR 6.43), a hamburger starts from HUF 3,590 (EUR 9.28), a Hungarian traditional lángos is HUF 3,000 (EUR 7.75), while you have to fork out HUF 5,000 (EUR 13) for 5 pieces of chicken bites. Of course, these prices won’t shock foreigners coming from Western Europe that much.